Kathy Larkin Clark

We lived in Alaska at the time and planned to attend a Real Estate Convention in Hawaii. We took a babysitter my three boys, ages: 6, 7, and 9. The oldest was a redhead with fair skin. You can imagine the rest.

First the people who lived there really made over Ed and his red hair. Then he got thouroughly sun burned. So he enjoyed all the attention, but suffered with the sunburn.

The kids really enjoyed this trip much more than my husband and I did. While we were in meetings they were touring the island with the babysitter. They were at the beach each day and had a great time. They stayed a week and then we sent them home. Jim and I stayed another week and had a great vacation.

We took a dinner cruise, where they kept your glass full of Maitai’s. Before the cruise was over everyone was having a good time and singing and laughing. What a fun trip.

We toured Diamond Head, the Zoo, and all the shops. Attended two luau’s and several polynesian shows. The food and the entertainment on the Island is awesome.

Highly recommend visiting here and bringing your children, they will never forget the experience.

During my 30 years living in Alaska, when the winters would get too dark and too long, it was such a repreve to fly to Beautiful Hawaii.

We visited mostly in Honolulu and usually stayed at the Hale Koa Hotel, which is a Military R&R Hotel. One of the most beautiful Hotels on the beach.

The weather is so perfect here, even when it is raining. The flowers have a sweeter smell than anywhere else. The pineaple and papayas taste devine.

We love the luau’s, beaches, ocean, shows, and touristy things.
Absolutely love it here.

We have had some great times in Orange Beach, Al. There is just something about the sound and smell of the ocean that is so therapudic for me. Give me some sand and let me get my feet wet in the ocean and I am a happy person.

There are many great restaurants and places to shop and visit in this area. Something for everyone.

If I could live anywhere I want, I would move to Foley, Al, just around the corner from Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

This is an awesome little town with great shopping and wonderful restaurants. Our favorite is Landry’s the home of the Throwd Rolls. They literally throw them at you. It is fun just to hang out there.

My favorite time to be there is May. And I am ready to go.

My Grandfather never let me forget that I spilled his coffee on his white suite when I was probably 5 years old. He loved to tell that tale.

One of my favorite places to stop is the Cafe Du Monde. Always serving the best coffee and delicious beignets. Now I am making myself hungry.

If we get even close to New Orleans we have to swing in and stop at the French Quarter. Must visit the Cafe Du Monde and have coffee and french donuts. Then stop at a candy shop and get some Pralines. Yum.

It is great just to sit and sip on your coffee and watch the activity on the streets of the French Quarter.

You should add this to your lists of interesting places to visit.

My son lives in this area and I can’t wait to return and meet his new family. He recently married a lady with three great kids.

When we visited here a few years ago, Ed arranged a fishing charter on the Kenai River/Lake. Even in June at 5am it is cold on that Lake. But around Noon, it was warm and beautiful. I caught a beautiful King Salmon. That was so exciting.

I highly recommend this area.

I went to Alaska in 1957. We settled in Anchorage. I started the 7th Grade that year and Graduated there in 1963. Married there, raised my 4 kids there, and enjoyed 30 years in this wonderful place.

Finally moved south to get warm in 1987. Have lived in Alabama for 20 years now. It is nice here, but my heart is still in Alaska.

Hopefully we will get to take another trip there this summer. I still have two sons living there. One in Anchorage and one in the Kenai Area.

A few years ago we took some friends to Alasa. We drove and took our time, the whole month of June. Canada was beautiful too. Then Alaska. We went to Fairbanks and then drove down the Parks Hwy, reliving all our past experiences and enjoying all the beauty. It is fun to show off our great State. Our friends were just ooohing and ahhing throughout the trip.

They couldn’t get over the midnight sun and the wildlife. We saw bears, moose, and sheep. Very little rain, only a couple sprinkles and very few misquitos. This was the perfect weather for tourism.

We wanted to show them Mt McKinley, but it was socked in with clouds. We said a prayer, the clouds parted, and they were able to see the mountain in all its splendor. We took some pictures and the clouds rolled back over the mountain. The perfect answer to our prayers.

After touring the State, we drove to Seward and put the van on the Alaska Ferry and cruised the inside passage. This is the part I had never seen. Juneau, Ketchikan, Hoonah, etc. We saw lots of whales, birds, etc. Wonderful way to see Alaska.

We got off in Canada and drove home via Seattle.

I would like to do that trip again, but this summer we may fly and rent a car. It is quicker.